Central, Dallastown have new boys' basketball coaches

May 20, 2009 (The York Dispatch - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- EAYO | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- A familiar face will be in a new place next season when the York-Adams League basketball season begins.

Former Eastern York coach Marty Hasenfuss was approved as the boys' varsity head coach at Central York High School on Monday night.

But that's not the only coaching hire that's been made in the last week.

Dallastown High School also appointed new varsity head coaches for boys' basketball, girls' basketball and golf on Thursday. All three were promoted after being assistant coaches at Dallastown.

Troy Smeltzer, who has been a Dallastown assistant for 10 years, will take over the boys' program from his longtime boss, Jay Rexroth.

Mary Kurnat was named the new girls' basketball coach after serving for one year as an assistant under Tory Harvey.

And Brooke Shoffner was chosen as Dallastown's new golf coach, succeeding Rick Kehr.

Rexroth and Harvey resigned recently, while Kehr died in January at age 63.

Hasenfuss, meanwhile, will succeed John Knox, who resigned after the season for personal reasons, according to Central York athletic director Marty Trimmer.

Hasenfuss returns to York County after a 14-year stint at Eastern York that ended in 2003. He left the Golden Knights, citing "philosophical differences" with the athletic administration and soon landed the head coaching job at Central Dauphin. He stayed with the Rams for three years, going 69-24, including a District 3-AAAA title in 2005.

But the one-hour, one-way commute to Central Dauphin from

his West York home led to his resignation there in 2006. For the last few years, he's served as an assistant coach at Elizabethtown College.

"I had been out of high school coaching for three years and I really missed it," he said. "I missed being at the gym and at practice. I wanted to get a good situation and I believe that's the case at Central. They've got a great administration and a great base of students that can be very competitive."

Hasenfuss was 200-148 during his Eastern tenure, including four York-Adams League Division II titles. He hopes to experience similar success at Central. The Panthers were 12-12 a season ago.

"I want the kids to feel they can be competitive on a nightly basis," he said. "And I want them to compete for championships. Unless you set your goals high, you can't achieve them."

Hasenfuss, 44, will continue to teach at Dallastown High School, where he's the diversified occupations coordinator.

One of the coaches that Hasenfuss will face in York-Adams Division I will be Smeltzer.

The 34-year-old takes over a Dallastown program that went 13-11 in 2008-2009. Rexroth, who resigned because of the large time demands of the job, was 232-172 in 17 seasons as head coach.

"I just want to continue to maintain the quality program that Jay Rexroth established while reinforcing commitment and dedication," the 1993 Red Lion High School graduate said. "I think Jay did a phenomenal job.

"With the 10 players we have returning, we have a solid core that understands the game. I'm very excited for the first season and looking for a very successful season."

Smeltzer teaches health and physical education and driver's education at Dallastown.

Kurnat, 27, takes over a Wildcat girls' program that was 12-12 a season ago. Before joining the Wildcats she had a three-year stay with the Army women's program, where she was director of basketball operations for one year and an assistant coach for two years.

"I wanted to see more of my family and be closer to home," she said in explaining why she left Army. "I wanted to teach and coach. This gives me better balance. (NCAA) Division I (basketball) was so intense. And Dallastown was a great fit for me."

Kurnat graduated from York Catholic in 2000. She's hoping to produce teams that are similar to the highly successful Irish programs.

"I really admire how they run things over there (at York Catholic)," she said. "I would kind of like to emulate that."

Kurnat teaches fourth grade at York Township.

Shoffner, meanwhile, was Kehr's assistant for eight years. He takes over a Dallastown golf program that's been hugely successful. Kehr was 849-192-11 during his 41-year tenure, winning 19 division championships.

Dallastown was 37-5 last season and finished second in York-Adams Division I.

Harvey, who is also Dallastown's athletic director, said the school has not yet hired a new varsity wrestling coach. Dave Gable resigned recently after compiling a 257-84-1 record in 20 seasons. Gable coached two PIAA individual gold medalists, two District 3 team champions and 12 York-Adams division champions.

Harvey said interviews for the wrestling job are scheduled for the near future.

Reach Steve Heiser at sheiser@yorkdispatch.com or at 854-1575, ext. 455.

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